Hazardous Materials

The Associate of Applied Science degree prepares the student for entry into an occupation or closely related cluster of occupations. A student may receive credit for military experience, military schools and civilian education.

Emergency Management

This program is designed to provide training and formal education for those entering the emergency management field as well as those currently in the field who require additional training and education.

Course Descriptions

HZMT 1905 - Sampling & Monitoring, 3 credit hours

This course introduces students to the basic concepts and technologies employed to properly sample and monitor various environmental media in a variety of settings. Course emphasis is given to both regulatory compliance and response operations. Topics include air, water, and soil sampling plans, equipment selection, sampling techniques, sample integrity, monitoring techniques, chain of custody, quality, and data interpretation.

This course provides a detailed study of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations pertaining to hazardous waste management, with an emphasis on the requirements of RCRA and CERCLA.

EMHS 1907 - Hazardous Materials Response Operations, 3 credit hours

This course provides students with the skills needed to manage or respond to a hazardous materials incident at the awareness or operations level. Topics include Hazardous Materials Laws, Regulations and Standards, Recognitions and Identification, Information Resources, Protection, Protective Actions, Product Control and Air Monitoring, Terrorism Awareness, HAZMAT and Law Enforcement issues. The course follows National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) 472 guidelines.

HZMT 1909 - Clean Air & Water Quality Regulations, 3 credit hours

This course provides a study of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regulations as they relate to hazardous materials technology. This course is intended as a follow on to EPA Regulations I, which introduced the student to the EPA and associated regulations pertaining to land protection and waste management. Clean Air & Water Quality Regulations emphasizes those regulations associated with the protection of air and water. Topics and activities include the 1990 Clean Act Amendments (CAAA), air permitting requirements Title V of CAAA, air pollution control technologies, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, analyzing case studies, writing reports, researching and interpreting standards in the Code of Federal Regulations.

A review of the research done in determining the systematic health effects of exposures to chemicals. Determination of risk factors, routes of entry, control measures, and acute and chronic effects are discussed.

HZMT 1914 - OSHA General Industry Regulations, 3 credit hours

The purpose of this course is to provide instruction concerning the development and implementation of a hazard communication program for employees, the community and emergency response personnel. Topics covered include hazard determination, the written program, labeling and placarding, safety data sheets (SDS), and the employee training program.

HZMT 1915 - Contingency Planning, 3 credit hours

This course is designed to teach the students how to develop an emergency response contingency plan for a facility or community. Preparedness includes analyzing the hazards, writing and implementing the contingency plans, training employees for an emergency, and evaluating the effectiveness of the contingency plan.

This course provides a detailed study of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations. Topics include identifying regulated materials, prepare shipping papers, inspection of packaging and label determination. Emphasis will be placed on interpretation of regulations used in the transportation and storage of hazardous materials.

This course is designed as an addition to the environmental management certificate program and environmental management degree. It focuses on OSHA's safety and health requirements for the construction industry. The course will provide students with an understanding of the role OSHA plays in the protection of construction workers and the various mandatory safety programs. The course also looks at the history of legislative acts passed to control work place hazards in construction operations and propose business strategies that incorporate safety programs into the framework of business operations. This course provides students with an overview of OSHA's health and safety programs as they apply to the construction industry and CFR 29, 1926. This course would also benefit those students in the management field.

HZMT 1934 - ISO 14000 Environmental Management, 3 credit hours

This course will concentrate on general environmental management systems and tools, which comprise the scope of ISO 14000, the voluntary international standard for environmental management systems. Students will explore specific requirements for environmental management systems, to enable an organization to formulate policies and objectives, which minimize the impact of its operation on the environment. Examples of environmental management systems that will be reviewed include policies, organizational systems, management, planning, operational procedures, effect and regulatory identification procedures, objectives, targets, vendor controls, auditing, record keeping and many others. Students will be given practical exercises requiring application and critical thinking to add structure and perspective to their learning process.

HZMT 1935 - Intro to Water/Waste Water Operations, 3 credit hours

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the basic operations of public water works as well as wastewater treatment facilities.

This course is designed as an introduction to the basic skills and techniques required to effectively employ Emergency Management Operations software. Both experienced and inexperienced students in the Hazardous Materials, Emergency Operations, or Emergency Services field will find the broad overview and extensive practical exercises beneficial to their learning process. Each student will learn to develop, assess, store, integrate, and manage critical data, using a suite of software designed to assist in planning and responding to hazardous chemicals/materials incidents.

HZMT 1940 - Introduction to Ergonomics, 3 credit hours

This course provides the student the fundamental knowledge about human structure, behavior, and common work practices. Knowledge gained in class will enable the student to evaluate work systems and recommend changes that will reduce work related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and other workplace ergonomics related injuries.

HZMT 1950 - Characteristics of Hazardous Materials, 3 credit hours

This course focuses on the basic concepts needed by first responders, emergency operations personnel, industry, and law enforcement to evaluate the potential hazards and behaviors of materials considered hazardous. It examines the reasons for the chemical behavior of hazardous materials and is designed to improve decision-making in safety operations, handling, entrance protection, mitigation, and decontamination procedures. Units of the course include the Periodic Table, chemical and physical aspects of chemical compounds and how these properties affect emergency incidents, salts, non-salts, the hydrocarbon family, hydrocarbon derivatives, and physical process of combustion.

LIFE 1426 - Renewable Energy Sources, 3 credit hours

This course provides a comprehensive overview of renewable energies, including solar energy, wind power, hydropower, fuel cells, biomass, and alternative transportation options. Students will be taught the principles of solar home design, solar hot water, pool and space heating, and solar cooling for both new and existing construction. Students will learn how to assess the viability of a wind power, hydropower or biomass system for a given site. Students will also learn about the impact of government regulations on the use of renewable energies. Students will analyze these renewable energy systems and will calculate savings fractions; backup energy needs, financing options, and economic analyses.

This course provides a detailed review and familiarization of how to prepare dangerous goods for commercial airlift in accordance with the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulation. Topics include identifying the dangerous goods that can be transported on a commercial aircraft, identify the different restrictions and variations for air carriers and host nations, preparing shipping documents, selecting appropriate containment devices and recognizing their immediate limitations, and selecting the correct markings and labels that are used to communicate the hazard(s) of the items.

HZMT 1978 - GIS for Emergency Operations, 3 credit hours

This course serves as an introduction to Geographic Information Systems and their application in Emergency Operations. The basic concepts of geography, cartography and Global Positioning Systems will be covered, along with the basic components and capabilities of a geographic information system. Students will learn about the fundamental types of GIS analysis and applications, focusing on those used in Emergency Operations.

HZMT 1979 - Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP), 3 credit hours

This course provides a brief overview of continuity of operations planning, including its definition, the legal basis for continuity planning, the Continuity Program Management Cycle, and the essential elements of a viable continuity program. The course covers program requirements, elements and support requirements and describes the roles and responsibilities of the Continuity Program Manager and other key players in developing a viable continuity program.